The Abia State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has upheld the victory of Dr. Alex Otti, governor of the state, in the March 18 election, The Herald reports.
The court sitting in Umuahia, the state capital, dismissed three of the prayers brought forth by the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Okey Ahaiwe, against Otti.
The tribunal, which delivered its judgement on Friday afternoon, ruled that Ahaiwe’s case against Otti of the Labour Party (LP) lacked merit. Ahaiwe had contested the declaration of Otti as the duly elected governor by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Through his lawyer, Paul Ananaba, SAN, Ahaiwe had requested that the court remove Otti and declare him the winner, citing non-conformity with Section 77 of the Electoral Act, among other grievances. However, the tribunal dismissed all of Ahaiwe’s requests for lacking merit.
The Tribunal’s judgement elicited spontaneous jubilation among thousands of supporters of the LP who had travelled from various parts of the State. They danced in joy and celebration outside the Federal High Court complex, Naija News understands.
In the meantime, the tribunal is currently presiding over the case brought by Ikechi Emenike of the APC against Otti. Emenike is seeking the removal of Governor Otti on the grounds that he failed to resign his membership from the APC prior to joining the LP.
Furthermore, the APC candidate in the gubernatorial election held on March 18th is alleging that Otti’s name was not included in the LP register during the election.
PDP rejects tribunal verdict
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Abia State has rejected the judgement of the Abia State governorship election petition tribunal which upheld the victory of Dr. Alex Otti as the Governor of Abia State.
In a statement signed by its state publicity secretary, Elder Amah Abraham, the party stated that it is not surprised at the judgement because Otti and the Labour Party have been bragging that the petitions of the PDP and the other party that challenged Otti’s declaration as winner of the 2023 Abia governorship poll would be thrown into the trash bin.
The statement read; “Such braggadocio was clearly subjudice and speaks to many infractions on the Nigerian law and the judicial process including the fact that Alex Otti and his men already knew the outcome of the judgement, days ahead of today. It is our firm belief that the justices erred in their judgement.
“Having rejected the judgement, the Abia PDP has conferred with our team of lawyers and based on our understanding that the learned justices erred, we are appealing the judgement as a means to correct the wrongs by the election tribunal.
“As a responsible and law-abiding corporate citizen, the Abia PDP wishes to restate our democratic credentials anchored on the principles of rule of law, justice, law and order and also reaffirm our firm belief in the judiciary as one of the strongest pillars of democracy.”
“We thank our members, teeming supporters and all democracy lovers who stood with us all the way; before, during and after the elections as we embarked on a journey meant to strengthen our democracy and right the wrongs inflicted on the electoral process by desperate politicians who are bent on having power at all cost.